Mumbai:
Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction on Tuesday cancelled all appointments to the position of party spokespersons effective immediately until further orders.
The party has 22 spokespersons to represent it on electronic and print media.
“Former MLA Vidya Chavan and Mahesh Tapase will represent the party’s official stance before the media as the party’s authorised spokespersons,” the party said in a statement on X.
पक्षाचे प्रदेशाध्यक्ष तथा माजी मंत्री मा. श्री. शशिकांत शिंदे यांच्या मान्यतेने, आज दि. ४ ऑगस्ट २०२६ पासून यापूर्वी पक्षाच्या प्रवक्तापदासाठी करण्यात आलेल्या सर्व नियुक्त्या पुढील आदेश होईपर्यंत तत्काळ प्रभावाने रद्द करण्यात येत आहेत.
तसेच, या कालावधीत माजी आमदार मा. श्रीमती… pic.twitter.com/CLlH87a5pt
— Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (@NCPspeaks) August 4, 2026
Vikas Lawande, a party leader, said he is “no longer in the party’s spokesperson position”, adding he accepts it.
“For any worker or party office-bearer, the party does not exist; rather, workers and office-bearers exist for the party-this has always been my firm belief. It is because of the party that the identity of workers and office-bearers is built,” Lawande said in a long post on X, adding he is “grateful to the party leaders for whatever trust they showed in me until today and for giving me the opportunity as party spokesperson”.
“I remain committed to the party’s fundamental ideology and will continue to stay active for the party. To make the party organization even stronger, henceforth too, I will take whatever responsibility the party gives me and remain active for the party’s democratic, progressive, and secular ideals. Politics for social work-this remains my eternal principle,” Lawande added.
आमच्या @NCPspeaks पक्षाने आज काही निर्णय घेतला आहे. सर्व प्रवक्ते पद रद्द केली आहेत.त्या निर्णयानुसार मी आज पासून पक्षाच्या प्रवक्ते पदावर नाही. पक्षाचा निर्णय कार्यकर्त्यांसाठी एकप्रकारे आदेश असतो. तो मी मान्य करतो.
कोणत्याही कार्यकर्त्यांसाठी किंवा पक्ष पदाधिकाऱ्यांसाठी पक्ष…— Vikas Lawande (@VikasLawande1) August 4, 2026
Another spokesperson Anish Gawande, who was given the charge two years ago, said it “has been a whirlwind on the front lines”.
“From shaping our election communications strategy to leading a delegation to Kashmir post the Pahalgam attack, and navigating intense cultural debates (from Aurangzeb’s tomb to India’s Got Latent), it’s been a whirlwind on the front lines. But what has truly set this rollercoaster ride apart is the opportunity to learn directly from Pawar Saheb. Observing his legendary acumen and sharing my insights with him has been a masterclass of a lifetime,” Gawande said.
Two years ago today, I was entrusted with the responsibility of National Spokesperson for @NCPspeaks.
From shaping our election comminications strategy to leading a delegation to Kashmir post the Pahalgam attack, and navigating intense cultural debates (from Aurangzeb’s tomb to… pic.twitter.com/0KFK3NSwTs
— Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) August 5, 2026
Amid swirling rumours, Sharad Pawar, late in July, categorically rejected reports of a possible merger between the two NCP factions, declaring that there is “no question” of the split camps joining hands.
